Automatic electric feeler



Aug. 10, 1954 TURNER 2,685,895

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC FEELER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 19, 1953 Aug. 10, 1954 M. F. TURNER 2,685,895 AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC FEELER Filed Oct. 19, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Mme

A TTOHNEY Aug. 10, 1954 M. F. TURNER 2,685,895

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC FEELER Filed Oct. 19, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

ATZWENZY Patented Aug. 10, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC FEELER Mack F. Turner, Marcus Hook, Pa.

Application October 19, 1953, Serial No. 386,817

7 Claims. 1

My invention relates to a new and useful automatic electric feeler for iooms to be employed as a weft detector.

An object of the present invention is to generally improve the construction of mechanisms of this character and to provide a solenoid operated lever for actuating an automatic weft replenishment means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a head carrying the detector fingers which head is pivoted for sidewise movements to reduce to a minimum the possibility of damage to the elements and said head being normally maintained in a central position under tension of an appropriate spring.

A further object of this invention is to proide jackets in which the detector fingers are slidably mounted, said jackets being slidably mounted in the detector head and both the jackets and detectors being urged forwardly or outwardly by springs which allow the fingers and jackets to be forcibly retracted if contacted by the shuttle or other part of the loom.

With the above and other objects in view this invention consists of the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same I will describe its construction in detail referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved automatic electric feeler for looms and showing the relation of a bobbin to the detector fingers.

2 is a back View thereof with the solenoid supporting arm and associated parts in reversed position r lative to the detector fingers.

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the feeler with a portion of the solenoid supporting arm broken away and illustrating in dotted lines the mannor in which the head may be swung from side to side and showing how the detector fingers may be forcibly retracted.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 4i of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section of the head on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 with one of the jackets and the detector fingers shown in elevation.

Fig. 6 is an underneath View of the device on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2 with the solenoid supporting arm broken ofi.

Fig. 7 is a view of a modified head and detector finger mounting with the top plate removed.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail section on the line 88 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of a modified form of solenoid supporting arm for association with the catch lever of a replenishing apparatus.

In carrying out my invention as herein embodied, reference being first had to Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, it! represents an angle bracket for attachment to an appropriate portion of a loom in proximity to the usual lay including shuttle boxes for receiving shuttles detachably holding a quill l l Fig. 1. This quill is of the conventional type except that it is provided with a metal contact band I2 of good electric conductivity.

The angle bracket lil includes a vertical leg l3 provided with a longitudinal bolt receiving slot i4, whereby said bracket may be adjustably fastoned to a loom, and a horizontal bifurcated limb l5 providing a longitudinal aperture iii in which a base block I? is slidably mounted for adjustment purposes.

A head H] of insulating material, preferably of oblong shape, is superimposed on the base block i7 and on top of said head is superimposed a turret collar 19. An axis screw 28 is projected through the turret collar it, the head IS, the base block H, with which said screw 2 has threaded connection, and a slot 2! transverse of the inner end of the solenoid supporting arm 22, which inner end underlies the limb 15 of the bracket l8 and the base block 1?, and a nut 23 is screwed onto the projecting lower end of said axis screw 28 to hold the parts together.

The turret collar I9 is fastened to the axis screw 26 by a set screw 24, Fig. 4, but when the parts are drawn together by the nut 23 there is sufficient space between the turret collar, head and base block to permit said head to swing from side to side without shifting the turret collar and the base block is held relatively stationary within the recess 55. The base block 5! and head i8 assembly can be adjusted lengthwise of the bracket limb 15 because of the recess iii and the slot 2| with which the axis screw registers.

Solenoid supporting arm 22 is also adjustable lengthwise of the bracket limb 15 because of the slot 2| and other relatively short slots 28 in said supporting arm 22, Fig. 6, through which project clamping screws 25, 26 that also function as terminal connections for electric conductors. The clamping screws 25, 3 5 have threaded connection with the bracket limb l5 on opposite sides of the recess Iii and the short slots 21, 28 are parallel with each other and the longer slot 2!.

In order to normally maintain the head [8 3 in a central position parallel with the bracket limb IS a coil spring 29 has one end fixed on the turret collar 19 and the other end is attached to a post 36 on said head [8 adjacent the rear end of the latter. By reference to Fig. 3 it will be noted that when the head is swung to either side of the central position the spring 29 is flexed and will return said head to its central position.

Slidably mounted in the head 58 are two spaced parallel tubular metal sleeves or jackets 3!, 32 in the horizontal plane. In the forward ends of these jackets are threaded flanged plugs 33 having bores 34 and in the rear ends ofsaid jackets are also threaded similar flanged plugs 35 having bores 36. The jackets are longer than the head and the forward ends thereof project. beyond the forward end of said head while the rear ends normally rest adjacent the rear end of the head but can be projected beyond said rear end of the head by sliding movements. The forward ends of the jackets are normally urged outwardly or forwardly by coil springs 3'! telescoped over said jackets and in. endwise engagement with the flanged plugs 33 and the opposed forward end of the head H3. The flanged plugs 35 stop the outward or forward movements of said jackets.

Detector fingers 38, 39 are slidably mounted in the bores of the screw plugs 33, 35 of the respective jackets 31, 32 through which said fingers project and which-latter are normally urged forwardly by coil springs it, Fig. 5, one of which is telescoped over each detector finger within its respective jacket and in endwise engagement with a shoulder s! thereon and the opposed rear apertured screw plug 35. The forward ends of the detector fingers are, by preference, provided with rounded knobs #2.

The solenoid supporting arm 22 which is detachably and adjustably mounted underneath of the bracket limb l5, as previously explained, has a leaf portion 43 projecting from either side of said bracket limb. Anappropriate solenoid 44 is attached to the underside of the leaf portion @3 in pendent fashion and the lower end of the central opening of the solenoid is closed by a cap 35.

In the central opening the solenoid is mounted the usual plunger 36 having a headed rod ll projecting from the upper end thereof and through the leaf portion 43 of the solenoid supporting arm 22-. Ears 48 are formed on said supporting arm 22 inwardly of the leaf ortion as and between said ears is. pivotally mounted a bell crank lever 49 having a foot 50 overlyingthe rod ll and an upwardly projecting branch i provided with a number of holes 52 in spaced relation. A connecting wire 53, having an intermediate V-shaped bend 54 therein, has one end removably mounted in either of the holes 52 for attachment to the branch of the bell crank lever dB and the other end attached to another bell crank lever 55 of the replenishing apparatus. In Fig. 1 the bell crank lever 55 is illustrated as being on the same side of the detector head as the solenoid whereas in Fig. 2 said elements are shown as on the opposite side of said detector head thus the bell crank lever 55 in one instance is operated in one direction while in the other instance it is operated in the opposite direction.

When electric current is passed through the solenoid M the plunger 46 is raised whereby the rod 5'5 will lift the foot 58 of the bell. crank lever mit the desired motion to the replenishing apparatus through the connecting wire 53 and V- shaped bend 55 will provide for a resilient transmission of motion and relieve any shock incident thereto.

The outward swinging movements of the bell crank lever 49 are limited by an adjustable stop 56 which may be in the form of a screw threaded through the solenoid supporting arm having a boss El to provide a desirable long thread-for said stop 55 which is held in any adjuste position by the nuts 58.

In the modified form of head l8a, constructed of metal, I have shown it as composed of two sections ,ltb and H30 fastened together as a unit. In this head is longitudinally slidably mounted the metal tubular jacket 3 la. and stationary jacket 3241 the latter being insulated from the head by a tubular insulator 32b. The jacket 32a and its tubular insulator 3227 are stationary in the head and firmly clamped by the two sections of said head. The same as in the first described form, both jackets 3la, 320; are provided with apertured screw plugs 33a at the forward ends and similar apertured screw plugs 35a at the rear ends and only the slidable jacket am is urged outwardly or forwardly by a coil spring 31a. Detector fingers 38a, 39a are sli'dably mounted in the apertured screw plugs at opposite ends of the jackets and are urged outwardly or forwardly by the springs 46a, Fig. 8, inside of said jackets the same as shown in Fig. 5. In many instances the feeler or weft detector is so positioned on a loom that one jacket of said feeler is beyond the path of travel of the reciprocating part of the loom moving to and fro relative to the feeler and it is unnecessary that both jackets be retractable wherefore the modified head construction can be utilized.

Instead of the solenoid supporting arm 22 which is associated with the bracket l B, a hanger 59, Fig. 9, may be mounted on the replenishing apparatus remote from the feeler structuredescribed herein. This hanger includes an arm 50 for attachment to a suitable support having a box-like enclosure 6| on its outer end, said enclosure being open at the lower end and housing a solenoid. On one side of the enclosure 5| at the top thereof is a bridge wall 82 from which depends the apron 63 in spaced relation to the adjacent side wall of said enclosure thus providing a passageway 64 for the reception of a conventional lever (not shown) on the replenishing apparatus. Said lever is movable within the passageway 64 and is actuated by the bell crank lever 65 pivoted at 56 between ears 6'! projecting from the outer face of the apron adjacent the end of the enclosure which is parallel with the bell crank lever 67. The foot of said bell crank lever 51 projects under the lever on the repleni hing apparatus and the lower open end of the enclosure 6i and said foot is connected by a wire 68 with the plunger of the solenoid mounted in and housed by said enclosure.

There are two terminals $9 and ii] on the upright leg E3 of the angle bracket l0 and said. terminals are accessible on both faces of said leg i3, Fig. 6. A conductor from one side of a source of electricity connects with the loom frame to the outer end of the terminal 16, Fig. 1, and another conductor M, Fig. 6, connects the inner end of the same terminal 16 with one side of the solenoid M. The other side of said solenoid is connected by a conductor 72, Fig. 6, with the inner end of the terminal 6s and the outer endof. said terminal 69, Fig. 1, is connected by a con-' ductor with the jacket 3| and through the latter with detector finger 38. The companion detector finger 39 is in electrical contact with its jacket 32 and the rear end of the latter is connected by a conductor with the combined terminal and clamping screw 26, Fig. 6, thus grounding the same for completing the circuit to the opposite side of the source of electricity which opposite side also may be in the form of a grounded connection.

With the form of solenoid supporting arm shown in Fig. 9 one detector finger and one side of each of the solenoid and the source of current may be grounded while the other detector finger and the other side of each of the solenoid and source of current are connected together by conductors.

In any case when both detector fingers engage the contact band on a quill at the same time a circuit is closed through the solenoid to actu ate its plunger for operating the associated bell crank lever to cause the replenishing apparatus to function.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details herein shown and described as these may be varied within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and useful is:

1. In an automatic electric feeler for looms, a bracke for securement to a loom in proximity to the lay, said bracket having a horizontal bifurcated limb, a base block slidably mounted between the branches of said bifurcated bracket limb for longitudinal adjustments, an oblong head pivoted on said base block for sidewise oscillations, a spring means to normally retain said head in a central position and return said head to said central position when moved to either side, a pair of tubular metal jackets mounted in said head longitudinally thereof and in parallel relation and insulated from each other, at least one of said jackets being slidable longitudinally, apertured screw plugs on the ends of said jackets and provided with outturned flanges, spring means to normally urge a sliding jacket forwardly and return the same to its forward position after being forcibly retracted due to contact therewith of a movable part of the loom, detector fingers slidably mounted in the apertured screw plugs of the respective jackets and adapted to complete a circuit through the jackets to a solenoid'when both of said fingers engage a metal contact band on a quill in a shuttle in the loom, and spring means within the jackets to normally urge said detector fingers forwardly whereby they are caused to follow the gradually diminishing weft yarn on the quill and be returned to their normal forward positions after being forcibly retracted due to contact therewith of a movable part of the loom.

2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the head is of insulating material and both tubular jackets are slidably mounted and urged forwardly by separate spring means.

3. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the head is of metal and one of the jackets is surrounded by a tubular insulator.

4. The structure according to claim 3 wherein the jacket within the tubular insulator is stationary.

5. In an automatic electric feeler for looms, a bracket for securement to a loom in proximity to the lay, said bracket having a horizontal bifurcated limb, a base block slidably mounted between the branches of said bifurcated limb for longitudinal adjustments, an oblong head superimposed on said base block, a turret collar superimposed on said head, an axis screw projected through said turret collar, head and base block and having threaded connection with said base block, means to temporarily fasten said turret collar to the axis screw whereby said collar is normally stationary and the head is swingingly movable from side to side, a pair of tubular metal jackets longitudinally slidably mounted in said head with their forward ends extending beyond the forward end of the head, screw plugs having bores mounted in both ends of both jackets, the plugs at the rear ends of said jackets limiting the forward movements thereof by contact with the rear end of the head, coil springs surrounding the forward ends of the jackets between the plugs at the forward ends of the respective jackets and the opposed forward end of the head to resiliently normally urge said jackets forwardly, detector fingers slidably mounted in the bores of the plugs of the respective jackets with the forward ends of said fingers extending beyond the forward ends of the respective jackets, said fingers having shoulders thereon located within the jackets and coacting with the respective forward end plugs to limit the forward movements of said fingers, coil springs telescoped about the fingers within the respective jackets between the rear end plugs and the shoulders to resiliently urge said fingers forwardly, said fingers adapted to complete an electric circuit through the jackets to a solenoid when both of said fingers simultaneously engage a metal contact band on a quill in a shuttle in the loom, and spring means connected to the turret collar and the head to normally retain said head in a central position and return the head to said central position when swung to either side.

6. The structure according to claim 5, in combination with a solenoid supporting arm underneath of the bifurcated bracket limb and having slot registering with the lower end of the axis screw, means on said screw to hold the supporting arm on the bracket, clamping screws projecting through slots in said supporting arm and threaded into the bracket to hold the supporting arm in various adjusted positions, said supporting arm projecting from a side of the bracket and having an apertured leaf portion at the outer free end, a solenoid attached to said leaf portion in pendent fashion, a plunger in said solenoid and provided with a rod projecting through the aperture in the leaf portion of the supporting arm, a bell crank lever pivoted between ears on the supporting arm with a foot of said bell crank lever overlying the upper end of the rod, and adjustable means to limit the movements of the bell crank lever in one direction.

'7. The structure in claim 6, in combination with a conecting wire having one end attached to the bell crank lever and the opposite end adapted to be attached to a replenishing apparatus, said connecting wire having a V-shaped bend intermediate its ends.

No references cited. 

